Heavy Duty Teamwork to Free a Thousand Footer From the Ice

Getting a ship out of winter layup is not an easy process! Not even counting the internal work, getting some of the largest machines out there up and ready for operation after sitting in sub-zero temps for months, the ice alone is a monumental challenge. Starting off at an estimated 3ft thick, the cutter Spar made the first and most difficult pass through Fraser Shipyard, even the 225ft icebreaker struggling a bit as seen in a previous video. Once she cleared out, the tugs moved in, using their smaller size and maneuverability to chip away at the ice sheet, coming within a few feet of shore and touching the ships on occasion to get them out. The goal seen here was to free Mesabi Miner and get her to the Duluth ore dock to load. The massive ship was also sitting too high in the water to clear the bridge safely, so she needed a spot to sit and fill her ballast tanks up. The tugs deployed about 1:30pm, hoping to get her out by 4, but the process was very slow going and Mesabi Miner’s bow thruster did not fire up properly at first. By 5pm enough ice was cleared out that the Miner started her engines and pulled slightly away from the dock to fill her ballast tanks, but from a radio transmission it sounded like something started leaking water when they started, so the shipyard sent people out. She also started her unloading boom up for some reason, spitting out dust, tried to catch that, doesn’t show up the greatest on camera though. Meanwhile the tugs cleared a path to the ore dock, periodically returning to keep the ice away from the ship. Finally around 8-9pm she sailed out and very slowly made her way to the ore dock, spun around and started loading. The next day around 7pm she departed and headed for the Canal bound for Cleveland with a full 63,000 ton load. Indiana Harbor, which had just finished a similar process in a different part of the harbor; was waiting for her to clear and go to the fuel dock. Miner reached the lift bridge just after 8 and slipped quietly into the darkness, a beautiful and peaceful sight. Oberstar had beat her out by a few hours so she wasn’t the first ship, but she still made her mark! Hope you all enjoy!